ABSTRACT of Faculty Senate October 29, 2007

Jeff
Newcomer, 2007-08 Senate President called the Senate to order at 4:04 pm.
Senators accepted Senate minutes of October 15, 2007 and Standing Committee
minutes.

§Senators heard Newcomer
report that attendees at the recent meeting suggested to the Higher Education
Coordinating Board that its strategic plan needs to focus on quality as well as
access, and that students must be prepared as critical thinkers with broad
foundations in the liberal arts as well as preparation in business and the
sciences.

§Newcomer reported on eight
faculty whose names will be submitted to the Board of Trustees as candidates on
the President Search Advisory Committee. The Board will select three for the
committee.

§President Morse described
the role of the Executive Policy Group which will meet next month.

§Senators later unanimously
passed a motion to slightly amend the Appointments of Opportunity
Policy which Jeff Newcomer will bring to the EP Group as the sole faculty
representative.

§Senators requested
statistics on the approximate number of annual appointments of opportunity and
allocation of funding for this purpose.

§Provost Murphy reported on
ongoing HEC Board discussion on the creation of the North Puget Sound campus of
the University of Washington, which now includes plans for a residential
experience, graduate programs, and focus on STEM (science, technology,
engineering and math), business and education programs. Four proposed sites
include Smoky Point, Arlington, Lake Stevens, and two Everett sites, all less
than an hour from our campus. Murphy added that this is competitive with
Western, but the University of Washington is responding to clear legislative
direction.

§UFWW President Bill Lyne
reported there will be negotiations this week, and four days in early December
requiring an extensive investment of time to reach a tentative contract.

§Newcomer conducted a straw
vote in which a Senate majority suggested retaining the Ombuds position as well
as an additional panel of disinterested faculty who will provide a venue for
resolving differences before they require union involvement.

§Senators heard the
following constituent concerns: a) deadlines for Fall Quarter all fall on the
same day; b) a growing shortage of level four classrooms; c) sport sirens in Red
Square interrupt teaching; d) some students involved in sports secure a place in
class then do not show up.

Senators adjourned at 5:40 p.m. and met in Faculty Caucus until 6:11 p.m.